Village Not Recommending Trick-Or-Treating In Buffalo Grove

BUFFALO GROVE, IL — While acknowledging community members will do it no matter what is recommended, the Buffalo Grove Village Board announced Monday night it is allowing trick-or-treating, but is not endorsing the activity. Citing 647 confirmed coronavirus cases in the village, officials said the dangers of an ongoing global pandemic are too great to get behind the Halloween tradition.

"The staff does not recommend banning trick-or-treating or canceling it outright. The cancellation of this event would require police action and enforcement of that ruling," said Evan Michel, assistant to the village manager. "Instead, in order to ensure that the community is safe, the staff recommends an approach of education."

COVID-19 TRICK-OR-TREATING GUIDELINES

• First and foremost, be respectful of your neighbors’ choice on whether to trick-or-treat this year.
• Children may trick or treat between 3-7 p.m. Oct. 31
• Refrain from participating in trick-or-treating if you are feeling unwell, if someone in your house is unwell, if you are awaiting COVID-19 test results, if you have recently returned from travel to a hotspot state, or if you know that you have been exposed to COVID-19.
• Turning on your porch lamps or outdoor lights to show that your home participating in trick-or-treat. Trick-or-treat participants shall not ring the doorbell of those who chose not to participate.
• Consider using a motion-activated noisemaker to notify you when trick-or-treaters are at the door, such as a motion activated Halloween decoration, rather than having trick-or-treaters ring the doorbell, which may become a high touch-point.
• Face coverings should be worn by all participants over the age of two, including individuals passing out treats.
• Avoid close contact with others by leaving candy on your porch.
• If you would prefer to answer the door to greet children individually, pass out candy instead of inviting children to take a treat from a communal bowl. Ask children to tell you their choice of a treat, rather than taking it themselves.
• Individuals should use hand sanitizer regularly throughout the trick or treat hours.
• Do not trick-or-treat in groups with others; trick-or-treat as a household.
• Maintain a safe distance from other trick-or-treating households, and do not approach a house until the previous group has left.
• Consider distributing treats other than candy, which parents can then sanitize before giving to kids: stickers in cellophane packaging, pencils, mini pumpkins, erasers, etc.
• Please refrain from distributing coins, cash, homemade treats, or fresh fruits.